Written By Nathan SotoCareer Expert & PR Specialist
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Reviewed By Geoffrey ScottSenior Hiring Manager & Career Coach
Nathan Soto
Career Expert & PR Specialist
14 years of experience
Nathan Soto is dedicated to providing practical guidance to job seekers, especially people with nonlinear career paths. Nathan graduated from the University of Nevada with a double B.A. in French...
As an aspiring makeup artist, you know that first impressions count. Our makeup artist cover letter sample helps you leave a professional first impression — download and tailor it to your own situation, or use it to inspire your own writing.
Copy-paste Makeup Artist Cover Letter (Text Format)
FIRST AND LAST NAME
Email: your.email@email.com
Phone: (123) 456-7891
Address: Street, City, State
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile
August 31, 2020
[Hiring Manager’s Name] [47 Company Address] [Company City, State, ZIP Code] [(xxx)-xxx-xxxx] [hiring.manager@icloud.com]
Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Manager’s Name],
I’m writing to you regarding the position of theatrical makeup artist, which I found on [Company Name]’s website and applied for through [Job Website]. I have more than four years of related work experience, as well as a portfolio of both natural and avant-garde looks created for various performers and customers. I believe my body of work stands as a testament to my abilities, and that my experience will allow me to seamlessly move into the position at [Company Name].
I’ve been working as a performance makeup artist at Impact Studios since 2016. In this role, I’ve applied makeup for actors appearing in both television and stage productions, worked with directors to develop looks for hundreds of different characters, preserved consistent aesthetics for specific personas, and ordered and maintained a stock of over 500 different cosmetic products.
From 2015 to 2016, I worked as a makeup artist at Silk Boutique Salon. I provided clients with unforgettable looks before personally meaningful events, including weddings, photo shoots, and award shows. I built strong client relationships and familiarized myself with products from 47 different brands.
I have the creativity, product knowledge, and communication skills necessary to fulfill the role of theatrical makeup artist at [Company Name]. I look forward to learning more about the opportunity and to discussing my interest in the role with you. You can reach me by phone at (858)-740-9513, or via email at ameliemarcos@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Amelie Marcos
Makeup artist cover letter tips
Whether it’s creating on-screen makeup looks or getting clients ready for a special event, skilled makeup artists are valuable in many industries.
Show employers you’re the right person for the job by demonstrating your expertise with an exceptional cover letter.
Here are three tips for writing an impressive makeup artist cover letter to improve your chances of landing your dream job:
Highlight your makeup artist skills
A cover letter gives you space to demonstrate soft skills that a resume can’t fully capture. The table below lists the top-rated soft skills for makeup artists from the O*NET database, each with a concrete example you can adapt to your own experience.
Skill
Example Sentence
Speaking
"I discuss vision, event context, and known skin sensitivities with each client before product selection."
Reading comprehension
"I study character reference materials and director briefs before a shoot to understand the intended aesthetic and prepare the correct product palette in advance."
Active listening
"I ask clarifying questions during consultations to distinguish between a client's stated preference and their underlying goal — for example, when someone requests 'natural' but means low-maintenance rather than minimal coverage."
Critical thinking
"I use Adobe Photoshop to analyze reference images and pull key tones before blending custom shades, so colors match accurately under set lighting rather than shifting on camera."
Judgment and decision making
"I weigh the client's stated preference against what I know will translate well on camera and remain stable through a long event, explaining my recommendation when the two differ so the client understands the reasoning."
Use proper cover letter formatting
Because you work closely with clients and other beauty professionals, you need to demonstrate a high level of professionalism. That starts with applying proper cover letter formatting to show employers you’re serious about the job.
Plus, an organized cover letter is more likely to attract the attention of hiring managers, who have dozens of applications to sift through.
Use standard business letter formatting to present your information: An introduction, at least two body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Set your font size no smaller than 10.5 points and no bigger than 12 points, and use an appropriate cover letter font.
Set your margins to 1” to 1½” on each side.
Emphasize your creative skills
To meet a client’s expectations, your creativity goes hand-in-hand with your knowledge of applying the best makeup techniques.
Ultimately, your clients want to know that you can bring their vision to life. In your cover letter, emphasize that you have the skills to meet demands and the ability to think creatively.
For instance, talk about how you tailored your makeup design according to the set lighting to achieve the best on-screen results. And make sure you reference your portfolio in your cover letter.
Our cover letter builder can make you a cover letter in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.
Average makeup artist salaries in the US
The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data is presented based on the top states by downloads in the USA.
Nathan Soto is dedicated to providing practical guidance to job seekers, especially people with nonlinear career paths.
Nathan graduated from the University of Nevada with a double B.A. in French and Music. His articles and career advice have been featured on multiple platforms, offering insights into resume writing, interview preparation, and personal branding.
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